PhD in Astronomy

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Northern Arizona University (NAU) will launch a new Ph.D. program in Astronomy and Planetary Science in the Fall of 2016. The Department is now recruiting new faculty members and Ph.D. students.

Superb Access To Large Telescopes

Faculty members and their Ph.D. students have full competitive access to facilities run by the University of Arizona including the 2 x 8.4-meter Large Binocular Telescope, 6.5-meter Magellan Telescopes, 6.5-meter MMT telescope, 2.3-meter Bok telescope 1.8-meter Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope, and the 1.5-meter Kuiper Telescope. NAU researchers have access to the 4.3-meter Discovery Channel Telescope, 1.8 Perkins telescope, and 0.8-meter NURO telescope through partnerships with Lowell Observatory. Faculty and students also have access to the 0.5-meter Lutz telescope on the NAU campus.

About Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University is a public university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees of high quality and societal value. As a student, you are at the center of the NAU experience, which is guided by a dedicated and distinguished faculty committed to teaching, individual engagement, and research excellence.

Everywhere you want to learn

Northern Arizona University provides multiple ways for you to earn your degree, whether you plan on studying at our Flagstaff campus, online, or at one of our locations throughout Arizona.

Excellence in applied research

The university is a high-research institution, providing practical solutions to problems that impact our region, nation, and the world. Our students and world-renowned faculty researchers work together to explore solutions to climate change, minority healthcare disparities, improve prosthetics technology, and create sustainable solutions for a wide variety of issues.

Tuition and cost

We know college expenses can sometimes seem daunting, but providing you with an excellent value is something we’re very committed to:

• Your undergraduate tuition rate is guaranteed to stay the same for 4 years.
• If you live in one of 14 eligible western states, your tuition will be approximately half the out-of-state tuition rate.
• Our students have nearly 25 percent less student loan debt than the national average.

Athletics

Northern Arizona University has 15 NCAA Division I athletics teams. We offer an exceptional student-athlete experience, culminating in graduation. Our programs have been honored several times with the prestigious Big Sky Conference Presidents’ Cup, which recognizes overall athletic success in competition and in academics.

Our values

Excellence in education We offer a rigorous, high-quality, and affordable education to all of our students. See the amazing differences that many of our graduates have made. Your success To ensure your future success, we are committed to placing the needs of you, the learner, at the center of everything we do. Our distinguished professors are committed not only to teaching you but serving as mentors and working with you as well. Here, hands-on learning and the opportunities for research and creative pursuits are available to you, even as an undergraduate. Distance education It’s important to us to provide all qualified students with access to higher education. Through The Extended Campuses of Northern Arizona, you can earn a degree at multiple locations throughout Arizona. Diversity Celebrating and promoting diversity is a cornerstone of the university. To help broaden your university experience, we sponsor a variety of international opportunities and multicultural events. We promote inclusion throughout your entire university curriculum. Additionally, we create opportunities for all diverse groups to share their perspectives and knowledge—so all students receive a rich learning experience. Together, we build a civil, engaging, and respectful campus climate where all backgrounds are respected. All students are encouraged to participate in our wide array of student clubs and organizations that foster diverse interests. Integrity Fairness and honesty aren’t only traits of an admirable person—they are also traits of admirable organizations. We strive for just that, and are committed to transparency and accountability—to fairness and honesty—in everything we do. All of our latest facts and statistics can be found at the Office of Planning and Institutional Research.